The
Cardunal Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a leader in the
development of our local community. The Chamber is comprised of large
and small businesses from CARpentersville, East and West DUNdee,
ALgonquian, Lake In The Hills, Gilberts, and Sleepy Hollow. Nestled
along the Fox River in Northern Kane County, we are located in one of the
fastest growing economies in Illinois.

Real estate development and growth continues to be strong with an
active new residential housing and commercial market. Large businesses
continue to invest in our community, such as McWhorter Technologies,
Inc. with the $3 million dollar expansion of its research laboratory,
and Marriott with its brand new hotel. Our award-winning Community Unit
School District 300 benefits from the expansion of companies like
Motorola, Panasonic, First Card and Holiday Inn.

Our retail shopping is centered by Spring Hill Mall, which is anchored
by five major department stores, a furniture store, and over 140
specialty stores. We also have many quaint and thriving "Main
Street" shops, small family businesses, and automotive dealers
that attract frequent shoppers.

Our community is strengthened by over 20 churches, a tourist center, an
arts council, a computer-assisted library, and a park district offering
state-of-the-art recreational facilities including two golf courses. A
recently passed "Open-Space" referendum is adding pristine
land for future generations.

Our Villages provide excellent services to make the CARDUNAL Area an
excellent place to live and raise a family. Transportation services,
highways, roads, and bike trails make us easily accessible for a day of
shopping or just a short visit.

Patrick J. Sharpe
Chairman of the Board
CARDUNAL Area Chamber of Commerce

"Together We Make A Difference"

The seven villages of the Cardunal area are tucked neatly into the Fox
River Valley's eye-pleasing landscape. Rich an diverse in character,
these villages are cozy places to live, work, and raise a family.

Diversity
is a key element in the Cardunal community. West Dundee literally
blooms with retailing. East Dundee focuses on its long and often
dramatic history. Carpentersville, Algonquin, and Gilberts are centers
of growing industrial might. And Sleepy Hollow and Lake In The Hills
beckon with serene and varied residential neighborhoods.

The rich flavor of diversity is evident in the area's numerous
subdivisions of new homes, in the variety of older homes, and in the
many townhome, condominium, and apartment complexes.

New or old, there is a home in the Cardunal area for every budget.

The
area boasts of excellent public and private schools and higher
education opportunities. Abundant recreation facilities in village and
township parks are designed for all ages.

Expert health care and treatment are readily available. Shopping is
always conveniently near. And the church of choice welcomes all.

The spirit of community dominates in the Cardunal area, a spirit of
caring and cooperation. "Paint-A-Thon" is the newest example
of this spirit. Home owning senior citizens with limited incomes in
Carpentersville, Dundee, Algonquin, Gilberts, and Sleepy Hollow can
apply to have the exterior of their homes freshly painted by area
volunteers without cost. Volunteers are recruited from area businesses,
service clubs, church groups, and other organizations.

The Cardunal area is an appealing place to live, filled with the
amenities that gives peace of mind in a hectic world.

When
the families of Jesse Newman and Joseph Russell staked separate claims
on the eastern bank of the Fox River in 1835, they unknowingly began
the modern history of the Cardunal area.

Their claims were made at the site of what is now East Dundee.

However, East and West Dundee owe their existence to the Oatmans, Elder
John and Nancy Oatman, who lived in Indiana before settling in
Illinois. Elder John Oatman had a town laid out on the west bank of the
Fox. His son-in-law, Tom Deweese, had a second town laid out on the
east bank. Thus, East Dundee and West Dundee came into being. Soon
afterward, Oatman built a tavern and a store. Deweese constructed a
grist mill. In 1839, the first bridge was built to connect the two
communities. West Dundee was incorporated in 1867 and East Dundee
incorporated in 1871.

In
the years since, both communities have grown and prospered. East Dundee
and West Dundee have an extensive number of historic homes that bear
white plaques displaying the date of construction.

Both East and West Dundee's original business centers on Rivert Street
and Main Street maintain their historical charm.

Algonquin was a fording place for wagons carrying set settlers from the
east in the early 1800s. As such, it was also a collecting point for
farm and dairy products en route to Chicago markets.

Incorporated in 1890, Algonquin later became a popular summer vacation
area for Chicago businessmen and their families. It retains much of the
charm of those bygone years. In the first decade of the 20th century,
Algonquin became nationally famous for its annual Hill Climbs, a race
in which production automobiles of the day raced up Algonquin Hill to
earn the coveted Algonquin Cup. The car that successfully met the
challenge of the climb gained widespread public approval.

Two brothers, Charles and Daniel Carpenter, were the first settlers of
Carpentersville, arriving in 1837. They made camp on the east side of
the Fox River to wait out spring flooding, planning to continue on to
the Rock River. Like other pioneer settlers before them, the brothers
changed their plans as the beauty of the Fox enthralled them. They
stayed to settle and develop a community called

Carpenter's Grove. The name was changed to Carpentersville in 1851.

In the 1920s, Judge Walter J. LaBuy took a fancy to the Lake In The
Hills area.

He bought nearly 500 acres and built homes for himself and each of his
four children. Judge LaBuy is credited with damming Woods Creek to
create a small lake for which Lake In The Hills was named. The village
incorporated in 1875 and has grown at a fast pace in recent years.

The
seven communities of Cardunal country stretch for more than 10 miles
along the banks of the Fox River, north of Interstate 90 and the city
of Elgin. A network of scenic roads and highways connect East Dundee,
West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Carpentersville, Gilberts, Algonquin, and
Lake In The Hills, the villages that comprise the Cardunal area.
Incidentally, the name "Cardunal" stems from the names of
three of the villages - Car-pentersville, Dun-dee, and Al-gonquin.

State Routes 25 and 31 and Randall Road are the major north-south
traffic arteries that link the Cardunal area with I-90, Elgin, and the
villages of the Fox River Valley to the south. To the north are the
cities and resort areas of northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Routes 62,
72, and 68 angle toward Chicago, connecting the Cardunal area with
other northwest suburban communities.

O'Hare International Airport is usually a quick 25 minutes away via
Interstate 90. Several area limousine services provide speedy and
convenient transportation to and from the airport. Lake In The Hills
Airport is home to many aircraft owned by the area's private flyers.
The airport offers complete airplane service and charter fights. Its
Northern Illinois Flight Center provides pilot training.

Swift and comfortable Metra commuter rail service to Chicago's Loop is
available from the convenient Big Timber station on Elgin's northern
edge, in Barrington, and in Crystal Lake, a few minutes north of the
Cardunal area. Pace buses provide transportation within the area and to
nearby communities. Dial A Ride service is available for the elderly
and handicapped.

Several motor freight carriers serve area business and industry. Rail
freight service is available in Elgin and Crystal Lake.